The Boss's Marriage Plan

by Gina Wilkins

  His eyebrows rose and his smile turned a bit quizzical, but he merely nodded and moved out of the doorway, motioning for her to precede him.

  Chapter Four

  Had they done this even a week earlier, Tess thought it wouldn’t have felt at all odd to walk into the baby store with Scott to find gifts for their coworker. Well, not very odd anyway. But now the comfortably established camaraderie that had previous existed between them had changed. Permanently? That remained to be seen.

  She and Scott paused in the baby furniture aisle, their heads close together as she scrolled through the baby registry on her smartphone, showing him the check marks that indicated items already purchased by others.

  “There’s not a lot left,” she said with a self-censuring frown. “I should have taken care of this sooner.”

  Scott glanced up from the phone screen to study her face. “That’s not like you. You’re usually ahead of schedule on stuff like this.”

  She gave a little shrug. “I guess it was Freudian,” she said lightly. “As happy as I am for Heather, I hate the thought of her leaving us. I’ll miss her.”

  She didn’t want to think there’d been an even deeper emotional reason she had been reluctant to peruse catalogs of baby supplies.

  Before Scott could respond, a young man in a store uniform paused near them. “Can I help you find anything?” he asked cheerily. “Do you need help setting up a registry?”

  “Oh, no, we’re not—” Tess stopped her automatic and completely unnecessarily explanation with a slight grimace. “I mean, we don’t need help right now. Thank you.”

  The young man moved on and Tess focused more intently on the list, avoiding Scott’s eyes. “There are still a few nice things left. I’m sure we can each find something.”

  “Maybe we could go in together on a gift?”

  Picturing someone reading aloud a card that said, “From Tess and Scott,” she cleared her throat. “Maybe we’ll just each buy our own.”

  She heard the amusement in Scott’s voice when he said, “Or that. What should I get?”

  She pointed to the screen. “No one’s bought this fancy baby monitor set yet. That’s about what you usually spend for this sort of thing.”

  “And no one would know that better than you,” he murmured with a smile. “Okay, so I’ll get the monitor. That was easy enough. What are you getting?”

  “I don’t know yet.” She scooted past a giddy young couple who appeared to be choosing items for their own registry, so absorbed in the colorful displays that they didn’t realize they were blocking an aisle. Tess couldn’t really be annoyed with them; they looked so excited and eager, and they apologized sheepishly when they realized they were in her way.

  She moved down an aisle, idly touching one cute little item after another, looking for something that spoke to her of Heather. Heather and her husband had chosen a nautical theme in navy, red and taupe. According to the registry, the bedding items had all been purchased, but the coordinating laundry hamper and changing table cover were still available. She chewed her lower lip as she debated between the two.

  “Not exactly an exciting choice, is it?” Scott asked as he eyed the options. “A laundry hamper?”

  “They’re things Heather wants. That’s all that matters. I’ll get the hamper. But I’m going to get a nice little outfit to go with it,” she added with a decisive nod. “Something not on the list for a surprise.”

  “Excuse me?”

  In response to the voice, Tess glanced around to find an older, silver-haired woman eying Scott with an oddly assessing expression.

  Scott smiled at the woman. “Yes, ma’am?” he asked, instinctively displaying the manners his Southern mother had drilled into him.

  “Do you mind if I ask how tall you are?”

  With a quick, amused glance toward Tess, Scott replied politely to the diminutive senior citizen. “I’m six-one. Do you need help reaching something?”

  “No. I need you to stand right here by these strollers and tell me which one would be more comfortable for you to push. My grandson is about your height, and his wife’s expecting. I’m here to buy them a stroller, but I want to make sure the handle is high enough for my grandson to push comfortably.”

  “I think most of them are adjustable,” he explained, reminding Tess of his familiarity with his young nieces and nephew. “There’s usually a button to push to raise or lower the handle.”

  The woman still wanted him to pose with a couple of strollers, just so she could “get a mental picture” of her grandson with her ultimate choice. Obliging, Scott took down the display models the woman indicated, then stood behind each one. His mouth quirked into a wry smile, he waited patiently while she studied him from all angles. She narrowed her choices down to two, had him stand behind each for another look, then pointed. “I think I like that one best.”

  “That’s the one I’d have picked, too,” Scott assured her as he hoisted the display model back onto its shelf. Having enjoyed the entire encounter from close by, Tess couldn’t help but admire his gracefully strong movements.

  “Really?” His new friend beamed in pleasure. “Is that the same stroller you two are buying for your little one?”

  Tess’s smile faded. “We’re shopping for a friend’s baby shower,” she blurted.

  “Oh. Well, I’m sure you’ll choose something nice. Thank you, young man,” she said over her shoulder as she bustled toward the customer service desk. “I appreciate your help.”

  “You’re very welcome,” Scott called after her before turning back to Tess. “Well, that was interesting.”

  Ready to get out of this baby-obsessed place, Tess grabbed the hamper, then marched over to the clothing section with Scott behind her. Flipping through the outfits, she selected a three-piece set consisting of a red snap-bottom shirt, navy pull-on knit pants and a navy-and-white-striped hoodie with an embroidered sailboat. It was cute and looked comfortable, and it worked well with the nautical theme. “This will do. I’m ready to check out now.”

  They paid at separate registers for their purchases, then headed for the door almost at the same time. Still, she was a good three steps ahead of Scott when they reached their cars, which were parked side by side in the lot.

  “Were we racing?” he asked ironically when he caught up. “If so, you win.”

  “Sorry,” she muttered. A night breeze blew steadily against her face, but didn’t seem to cool her overly warm cheeks. She couldn’t have explained why she felt so uncharacteristically awkward and foolish all of a sudden. She hated this feeling of being not quite in control.

  He took a step closer to her. The parking lot was well lit with tall security lamps decorated with holiday wreaths, but his eyes were shadowed from the light behind him. She couldn’t quite read his expression. Still, she could see he wasn’t smiling now.

  He touched her arm. Even through the fabric of her coat and clothing she was intensely aware of that point of contact between them. She hoped he attributed her shiver to the weather.

  “Tess, you’ve been tense and jumpy ever since I came back to the office. I’m guessing you’re trying to figure out how to tell me you aren’t interested in the suggestion I made the other night. I don’t know if you’re afraid of hurting my feelings or worried that I’ll be upset with you or what, but really, you can relax. I promised I wouldn’t let your answer affect our working relationship—or our friendship—and I’m standing by that promise.”

  A brisk gust of cold wind whipped a strand of hair out of her loose updo and into her eyes. She reached up to push it back. Were they truly going to have this conversation in a parking lot?

  “We can get past this, right?” he asked quietly, the question barely audible over the drone of passing cars and the voices of shoppers milling in the lot around them. “We’ll be okay
?”

  She moistened her chilled, dry lips. “Actually, you’ve completed misinterpreted why I’m so nervous tonight,” she said. “I’m not trying to figure out how to turn you down, Scott. I’m trying to find the courage to tell you I’m willing to give it a try.”

  It wasn’t often she saw Scott startled into immobility. She thought maybe she was viewing it now, as he went very still, his hand unmoving on her arm. After a moment, he said, “So it’s a yes?”

  She took a leap of faith and nodded. “Yes.”

  A car cruised past them in search of a parking space, bone-vibrating bass booming from the interior as the passengers gambled deafness in favor of volume. Roused into recognition of their surroundings, Scott glanced around with a grimace. “So...dinner?”

  She nodded again. It was too late to bolt in panic now, she reminded herself, though she had to admit the thought occurred to her.

  * * *

  They dined at a barbecue restaurant within view of the baby store. First pizza and then barbecue, Scott thought after they were seated in the casual, noisy dining room. He made a mental note to take her someplace nice soon, now that they were dating...or whatever it was they were doing. For now he was aware of a deep sense of satisfaction that she’d decided his brainstorm wasn’t so crazy after all.

  Because it seemed to calm her, he kept the dinner conversation light and primarily centered on work. They discussed the new employee she’d hired, and he shared his enthusiasm for the apartment complex project he’d contracted that day. Though a bit quiet at first, Tess was soon chatting easily enough, helping him plan ahead for the holidays that always played havoc with schedules. Every year it seemed they ran into delays and shortages between the first of December and New Year’s Day, whether because of vacations or weather or a half dozen other seasonal issues.

  This was their strength, he reminded himself. Their common ground. He didn’t have to try to woo her or put on a calculatedly romantic facade for her. He could simply be himself, which only confirmed his belief that they were uniquely suited as a match. Pushing his luck a bit, he took advantage of her more relaxed mood to say, “There’s that thing Thursday night. The Holiday Open Home party.”

  He knew he didn’t have to be more specific. His company had participated in the Holiday Open Home fund-raiser for the past five years. Each year, one of the area’s most luxurious homes was lavishly outfitted for the holidays with donations from local builders and decorators. Tours were conducted during the first three weekends of December, with all the receipts given to a local women’s shelter. In return for a monetary donation, Scott’s company was listed in the publicity material. The event’s organizers always hosted a cocktail party for donors on Thursday evening before the tours began on the first Friday. The gathering was covered by the media and attended by the professionals who considered the event part of their annual advertising and charitable budget.

  The parties were usually rather dull, but Scott figured it was good to be seen at them, so he tried to make a regular appearance. Because Tess was in charge of the firm’s charitable donations, she was always invited to the cocktail party by the organizers. It occurred to him only then that though she’d probably been invited to bring a guest, as he was, she’d always attended on her own. He wasn’t sure why, unless she’d considered the event strictly business.

  She toyed with a forkful of coleslaw. “Yes, I remember.”

  “Why don’t I pick you up and we can go together?” It seemed like a good opportunity to make their debut as a couple. Their business associates could become accustomed to seeing them together outside the office so that it wouldn’t cause quite such a stir when they made it clear their relationship had moved beyond professional.

  “We won’t be making any announcements about our personal plans or anything like that,” he assured her when she didn’t immediately respond. “Just attending together. You know, sort of kicking off the season.”

  She nodded. “All right. We’ll go together.”

  He chuckled drily. “It’s a party, Tess, not a tax audit.”

  A quick, rueful laugh lit her eyes and curved her lips. She had such a very nice mouth. Full and soft, perfectly shaped. He found himself transfixed by her lips now, remembering the feel of them against his. The taste of them.

  “I was somewhat less than gracious, wasn’t I?” she acknowledged apologetically. “I’m sorry, it isn’t that I don’t want to go with you. I’m probably just overthinking things. You know how I get.”

  “Having second thoughts?”

  “No.” Her answer was immediate and steady. “I’ve considered everything you said and it makes sense to me. We do make a good team.”

  “We always have,” he agreed with a surge of satisfaction.

  “And it will be nice to have you with me at some of the events I have to attend in the next few weeks. I can’t wait to see my sister’s face when she sees you at the parties with me,” she added, almost as if to herself. “I dare her to find anything to criticize about you.”

  He was a bit taken aback by the glint in her amber eyes. Maybe she’d intended that as a compliment? But he wasn’t sure he wanted to be used as a pawn in some sort of battle of wills between Tess and her sister. He was trying to decide how to broach the subject when someone called his name from nearby. “Hey, Scott, thought that was you. How’s it going?”

  He glanced up to nod warmly at the couple who paused beside him. An old friend of Eli’s, Bryan Crawford, held a towheaded toddler on one hip while his wife, Jessica, held the little boy’s golden-blond older sister by one hand. “Hi, Bryan. Jessica. Nice to see you both.”

  “This is a coincidence,” Bryan said with a broad grin spread over his ruddy face. “We just saw Eli and Libby an hour ago. We were all attending an open house at the girls’ preschool. Your nieces are growing fast, aren’t they?”

  “They are. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Bryan.”

  The other man chuckled and ruffled the hair of the drowsy boy he held. “Yeah, I haven’t had much time for pickup basketball games lately. You know how it is once you have kids, always something on their schedule.”

  Jessica rolled her eyes with a weary bark of a laugh. “Now, how would Scott know about that, honey? He’s the carefree bachelor in the Prince family, remember? Libby says he’s too busy running that company of his to settle down and chase after a couple of kids.” As if on cue, their daughter, who was the same age as Scott’s nieces, whined and tugged impatiently at her mother’s hand.

  “Yeah, lucky guy,” Bryan said with a grin, but the way he patted his son’s back made it clear he wouldn’t change places with the “carefree bachelor.”

  His smile feeling a bit strained, Scott motioned toward Tess, who was sitting very quietly watching the exchange. “Bryan and Jessica Crawford, this is my friend, Tess Miller.”

  He very deliberately neglected to mention their work relationship. This was the start of their new phase. Step one of what he was beginning to think of as his marriage plan was successfully under way. Tess was willing to give it a try. Which meant this evening was officially a date, not a business dinner.

  Neither looking surprised to have found him dining with an attractive woman, the Crawfords murmured their polite “nice to meet yous,” then gave in to their daughter’s increasingly insistent urgings and made their exit. The toddler waved bye-bye over his dad’s shoulder, making Scott chuckle and wave back.

  “Cute kids,” Tess said, drawing his attention back to her.

  “Bryan’s an old friend of Eli’s. His daughter’s in school with the twins, at Miss Bitty’s. I think Libby had the girls on a waiting list for the place while she was still pregnant with them.”

  “I’ve heard of it. It’s supposed to be one of the best. I know my sister looked into it when her oldest was a toddler, but it was too expensive for them
then. She didn’t want to admit that, so she just told everyone it wasn’t her favorite option.”

  Was that another little dig at her sister? As close as he was with his own clan, it bothered him to think about Tess being estranged from the only immediate family she had left. From what he’d heard her say on the phone, it sounded as though Nina’s nagging was most of the problem. So if his presence at the parties helped alleviate that problem, then maybe he didn’t mind so much after all. Wasn’t mutual benefit the whole point of this dating experiment?

  “So,” he said, “we’re on for Thursday night, right?”

  She gave him a too-bright smile. “Yes. We’re on.”

  “Great.” Personal business out of the way, he turned his attention back to business. “Now, about those meetings tomorrow...”

  Twenty minutes later, he walked her to her car. Their breath hung in the air as they continued the work-related conversation they’d started inside, finishing up with a list of tasks he wanted completed the next day.

  “I’ll have Heather and Lynne start on those things in the morning,” Tess agreed with a brisk nod, drawing her coat more closely around her against the chilly night air. “They should be able to finish most of it before the baby shower at four. I’ll make sure your office is set up for the ten o’clock meeting, and the conference room upstairs for the one thirty. You should have plenty of time between meetings for that lunch with Garvey and Hannity.”

  It occurred to him that she was so confident, so at ease with him when they spoke of work, in marked contrast to the hesitation she showed when they veered into their new personal arrangement. Of course, she’d had several years to grow comfortable with him in the business setting; he supposed it would take a little practice in this new arena. And because there was no time like the present to begin...

  He caught her arm as she reached for her car door. When she looked up at him, he lowered his head to brush his mouth against hers. “Your lips are cold,” he said, smiling against them. “Maybe I should warm them up for you before you leave.”